Gordon C. Sharp

TL;DR: Proposed classification criteria for systemic sclerosis had a 97% sensitivity for definite systemic sclerosis and 98% specificity when applied to the case and comparison patients included in this study.

TL;DR: The detection of antibody to ENA with a well defined specificity allows recognition of an apparently distinct mixed connective tissue disease syndrome which is characterized by an excellent response to corticosteroid therapy and a favorable prognosis.

TL;DR: It is likely that the patient with hemagglutinating antibodies to ribonuclease-resistant extractable nuclear antigen has mixed connective-tissue disease, if the serum contains only ribonucleoprotein antibody in high titer.

TL;DR: The prevalence of scleroderma-type capillary abnormalities, as observed by in vivo microscopy, was determined in 173 patients from three rheumatic disease centers, finding enlarged and deformed capillary loops surrounded by relatively avascular areas, most prominently in the nail-folds were found in 82% of patients with sclerodma and in 54% with mixed connective tissue disease.

TL;DR: Results yield significant correlations among the pattern of autoimmune reactivity, the clinical form of the rheumatic disease, and responsiveness to treatment, which implicate the qualitative nature of the patient's immune response as a conditioning factor in the type of disease.